#Review of the Adventures of Grant Scotland (Books 1-4) by Dan McClure w/a rafflecopter giveaway!

The Adventures of Grant Scotland

by Dan McClure

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GENRE:  Fantasy

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Harlie here:  I read all four books.  Yes, all four and I admit that I don’t read fantasy.  I will briefly give my impression of each book below.  Overall, I really enjoyed the series.  Grant is like James Bond/Peter Quill/Indiana Jones all rolled into one character.  I loved that books have an overall arc to them.  Each stands alone (somewhat) but it is best to read in order.  If you are looking for romance, stop.  There are like two women in the whole series that have anything substantial to do or say in the book (other than being underused secondary characters).  That said, I fall in love with Grant.  He’s a good guy that is mixed up in some weird stuff that had this reader entranced and thrilled.  There are plenty of thrills, adventures, and humor to keep you reading.  Oh yes, I couldn’t put the series down.  I HAD to know what was going to happen next and you will, too.

 

The Unlikely Spy (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Volume One)

 

The Adventures of Grant Scotland series is an entertaining mix of fantasy, mystery and espionage featuring a hero whose many faults provide almost as much challenge to him as the formidable obstacles he must face as he attempts to impose sanity upon a world rapidly descending into chaos. Collected in this volume are the first three books in the series: Spy for a Dead Empire, Spy for a Troubled King and Spy for a Wayward Daughter.

BLURBS:

Spy for a Dead Empire (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book One)

AELFA, THE GRAND CAPITAL of the once mighty Aelfan Empire, has fallen. Barbarian war parties and nomadic tribes harass the retreating and broken legions that once overawed them. All that stands against them now is the city of Zyren, the last bastion of Aelfan rule.

Acting as a spy for Zyren is Grant Scotland, a man leading a double life because his own had been taken away from him by the very people he serves. An unwilling recruit into the business of clandestine missions and deceit, he searches for anything real to cling to as the world around him devolves into insanity. And when an old friend shows up asking him to help save his family by delivering a mysterious book to a shadowy figure, Grant’s two lives collide and he is thrust into an even stranger world than he had known; one where ancient magic is wielded by deadly players who compete against one another for a prize greater than simply the rotting carcass of a dead empire.

Like I said above, the reviews now will be my overall impressions of each book.  I loved Grant.  At times, I felt like he just wanted to chuck it all and just forget about what he needed to do.  He had been betrayed and I could definitely see him doing that but not Grant.  He’s a good guy with an even bigger heart and knew that he had to finish what was started.  I will caution you though, the book has lots of world building and back story.  At times I felt like Mr. McClure could have spread out Grant’s back story through the series but that’s just me.  Overall, I really liked the set up of Grant Scotland.  😉

 

Spy for a Troubled King (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Two)

AMONG THE ASHES of the mighty Aelfan Empire, the House of Gregyan seeks to forge a new kingdom—one where both Huthan and Aelfan alike can prosper. But old prejudices and ancient traditions and an exiled enemy threaten the peace. Caught between compassion for his home and allegiance to his fallen empire, Grant Scotland finds himself trapped in the turbulent machinations of enemies and friends. As he works to uncover mysteries about his father’s treachery and confront new threats to his future, he moves perilously close to revealing his identity and losing everything.

 

 

Spy work is never done for Grant.  In this installment, he gets beat up, the secondary characters take hold and the political intrigue is ratcheted up a couple of notches.  The book never stops.  I swear I needed a nap after reading it.  I was spent, excited and tired.  Tired?  Oh yes, this series is like the medieval version of a James Bond movie and/or Indiana Jones, with the dry sense of humor.  This installment is grittier, rawer than the first one.  Very noir.  Loved it.

 

Spy for a Wayward Daughter (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Three)

AS THE GREGYANS MARCH TO WAR and his handler takes a trip to Zyren, Grant Scotland, spy errant of the Aelfan Empire, gets ready to pursue a lead on finding a man who might be able to tell him the truth about his father’s treason. Old friends, new enemies and hidden dangers soon confront him on his quest, but when he enters the dark world of another family’s intrigue, he finds that not even the frontiers of the Aelfan Empire are far enough away to escape the dangers of fortune and fate.

 

 

Okay, this book is a bit slower than the second.  I could actually catch my breath.  Grant doesn’t have much harm coming to him and he just keeps on spying while trying to figure out about dear old dad.  Again…you just have to read the books.  There is adventure, intrigue, a main character that I fell in love with, enough dry humor to keep you going, and the fantasy element?  I’m there and I don’t read the genre.  🙂

 

 

Spy for a Greedy Villain (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Four)

RACIAL TENSIONS IN AELFA simmer and threaten to boil over when the harbormaster is found dead and the Huthan oppressors threaten to crack down in the Lower Docks. As Grant Scotland finds more questions than answers in the journals of Berthul Magnussen about his father’s treachery, he is drawn into a murder investigation, a kidnapping plot and the nefarious machinations of the city’s biggest crime lord—Mr. Quinn. In order to stop Quinn’s plans and save the city from being thrown into open revolt, Grant prepares to take his biggest gamble yet.

 

 

 

Okay.  Caught my breath…finally.  This installment is much slower that all the previous ones.  Now we are dealing with murder and a crime lord…fantasy style.  Oooo, this one had to be my favorite.  I liked how Mr. McClure is finally putting all the pieces of the puzzle together now.  Like I said above, there is an overall plot arc to the series and I’m beginning to see the bigger picture.  Again, fantasy is not my thing but I will keep reading about Grant Scotland until the end and be sad when that happens.

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Excerpt One:

Spy for a Dead Empire (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book One)

Everything that ever happened to me since I was a kid played out in my mind and I was eagerly explaining every moment and why it was important to the foot of the table near my head as I regained consciousness. Unfortunately, my mouth wasn’t cooperating, so I’m fairly sure the only sound that came out was “Mmurfermumf?” The foot of the table had no response. I didn’t blame it. I’m the same way. I get embarrassed when I’m around people who talk about themselves too much, too.

I tried to get my hands up under me and push to get up, but I didn’t even get half of that done before I decided to knock off and maybe try again tomorrow. My head felt like a lead weight and a constant ringing was filling my ears. After a few minutes passed I decided I could maybe twist around a bit and get on my back, which I managed to do with all the speed of a garden slug.

My vision was slowly clearing and sharpening and I could tell I was in a dark room somewhere with dim light coming from partially shuttered windows. Suddenly I remembered the horse and the rain and the door and looked around quickly to see if my assailant was nearby.

I deeply regretted that action as blood roared in my ears and a wave of nausea almost overwhelmed me. I choked and screwed my eyes shut and stayed perfectly still and after a time I was able to breathe and open my eyes again. Good thing whoever hit me wasn’t still around. If they were, I’d have given them what for by throwing up all over their shoes.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Writing stories infused with the smoky charisma of classic film noir mixed with the pulse-pounding excitement of adventure fantasy and the cagey class of suspenseful espionage, Dan McClure brought the best parts of all of our most cherished pulp together and added his own signature brand of wit. He currently lives, writes and works in and around beautiful and historic Arlington, Massachusetts.

I can be reached at

dmcclure17@hotmail.com.

Follow me on Twitter at

https://twitter.com/DMcClure17

Like Grant Scotland on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/grantscotlandseries

Sign up for my newsletter on my blog at

https://dmcclure17.wordpress.com/

Visit my Amazon Author page at

http://www.amazon.com/Dan-McClure/e/B00JUNYTZA

Buy Link: Amazon – See below for sale dates on the books

https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Grant-Scotland-Book/dp/B01M5JG2W9/ref=sr_1_3

KINDLE COUNTDOWN SALE DATES:

Spy for a Greedy Villain (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Four):

Kindle Countdown Deal

1/4 – 1/7 @ $0.99

1/7 – 1/11 @ $1.99

 

Spy for a Dead Empire (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book One):

Kindle Countdown Deal

1/11 – 1/14 @ $0.99

1/14 – 1/18 @ $1.99

 

Spy for a Troubled King (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Two):

Kindle Countdown Deal

1/18 – 1/21 @ $0.99

1/21 – 1/25 @ $1.99

 

Spy for a Wayward Daughter (Adventures of Grant Scotland, Book Three):

Kindle Countdown Deal

1/25 – 1/28 @ $0.99

1/28 – 2/1 @ $1.99

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.
a Rafflecopter giveaway “